Last night's Hannity show was an hourlong special with Frank Luntz described by Fox as "Taking America's Pulse on 2012." What they meant was "taking America's pulse on Mitt Romney" - at least as far as the presidential election goes. Because the show kicked off with Luntz' group rating two pitches for why voters should elect Romney (one pitch from Luntz and one from Sean Hannity). The pitch for re-electing President Obama? There wasn't any.
"Tonight, we'll be doing something that you'll only see on Fox News.. a very special look at the 2012 elections and much more," Luntz said by way of introduction. He certainly got that part right.
Once again, Luntz coyly described his focus group so as to obscure its makeup while also giving the impression it was representative of the United States. "We have assembled a group of energized voters, Republicans and Democrats." He didn't bother to tell us how many of each.
But rather than dwell on those details, it was on to "the dials," Luntz' gadget by which his participants give feedback on what is being presented to them. They dial up when agree or approve, down when they disagree or disapprove.
Then Luntz and Hannity did their best to win everyone over to Mitt Romney in one minute.
Fair and balanced? I don't think so!
And by “America’s pulse”, they meant the pulse of the rich, white, one percent of America.
BTW, if recent {non-Luntz} polls are any indication, “America’s pulse on Mitt Romney”, appears to be flatlining:
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/04/02/poll-itics-president-obama-trouncing-mitt-romney-with-18-point-lead-with-women-in-12-swing-states/
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/04/17/florida-poll-itics-pres-obama-beating-mitt-romney-at-10-with-black-voters/
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/05/12/poll-obama-leads-romney-in-michigan-more-voters-support-same-sex-marriage/
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/05/24/poll-itics-new-polls-show-pres-obama-beating-mitt-romney-in-key-swing-state-of-wisconsin-3-others/
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